Congress to decide on Karnataka election

    New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh has said that the decision on mid-term polls will be taken by the Congress High Command after discussion with the party rank and file. "So many sections of people are demanding mid-term polls. Ultimately, what is the opinion expressed by the rank and file that will be discussed by the high command," Singh told a private news chhanel. However, he said that the Congress High command was in favour of continuing the coalition government, adding, "This is the first time we are running a coalition government. It is very difficult to run a coalition." Singh also rejected the allegation that the Congress had surrendered before any party.

   Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said in Chennai that the coalition had failed in Karnataka and against the backdrop of an open fight between the JD (U) and the Congress, there was no option left except to go to the people. "There was no question of the BJP supporting the JD (U), which was a constituent of the coalition government led by Dharam Singh," he said, adding, ''The BJP is the number one party in Karnataka with 79 MLAs. How can we think of directly or indirectly supporting anyone?" Meanwhile, Gowda has stated that he will begin the exercise of consulting party-men to decide the "fate" of the coalition government in the State. He said heads of JD-S district units will be invited to Bangalore to elicit their views on whether to continue the coalition arrangement with Congress or to call it off in the wake of sharp differences between the parties over sharing of power in Panchayats. Gowda said he also decided to hold consultations with ministers representing JD-S in the coalition ministry to decide his party's future plans. He said a decision will be announced in this regard on February 9, after conclusion of the party's national executive meeting to be held in Bangalore. A meeting of newly elected Zilla and Taluk Panchayat members will be convened in Bangalore on January 23.

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